Iranian Cinema Awarded at Montreal World Film Festival

Two Iranian productions have been awarded at the 2009 edition of the International World Film Festival in the Canadian city of Montreal.

Mohsen Amir-Yousefi's Fire Keeper received the event's Innovation Award and Mohammad-Reza Vatandoust's When the Lemons Turned Yellow won the silver Zenith Award of the festival.

The 33rd Montreal World Film Festival closed on Monday night at Place des Arts' Theatre Maisonneuve with The Everlasting Flame: Beijing Olympics 2008 by Gu Jun, who was also honored with a lifetime achievement award.

Iran's Twenty by Abdolreza Kahani's, Penalty by Ensieh Shah-Hosseini and First Filmby Panah Panahi also participated in the festival.

The 2009 World Film Festival was held from August 27 to September 7, screening feature-length and short films as well as documentaries by well-known and first-time filmmakers from over 70 countries.